People often think of disinheriting someone as a negative event – and it certainly can be. For example, a parent may have a falling out with one of their children, and the two of them become estranged. They don’t see each other for 20 years and the parent disinherits the child, removing them from the estate plan.
But it is not always a negative event. There are many reasons for disinheritance, and some of them can be positive. For example, perhaps the distributions are simply based on need.
Why would this lead to a disinheritance?
The parent who is drafting the estate plan may believe that they know how their money can do the most good. They know that one beneficiary needs it much more than the other.
For example, perhaps they have one child who has a successful career as a surgeon or a commercial airline pilot. They’ve accomplished a lot in life and they are financially stable. They would certainly enjoy an inheritance, perhaps taking a vacation or something of this nature, but they don’t need the money.
On the other hand, the second child does not have an advanced education and struggles to keep a job. They often have a lot of debt and experience financial instability. For them, the inheritance could be a lifeline. It could open up doors for them that would not have been possible otherwise. The parent may give that child more money simply because they know it can do the most good – that child has the most need.
Of course, disinheriting a family member can get complicated and can sometimes lead to a dispute. Those involved must be well aware of all of their legal options.